French Kissing in New York

October 15, 2022
A helpless romantic can't see what's in front of her in this food-filled romp around New York City. After one romantic summer night together in Paris, 17-year-old Margot, an aspiring chef from a small French town, and Zach, a visitor from New York City, make a pact to meet in one year's time in Times Square at midnight. Margot will be relocating after high school to pursue her restaurant dreams (her father, the American son of French immigrants, lives there with his fiance, Miguel). Zach and Margot don't exchange contact information, believing that this is meant to be. However, on the night they are to meet, Margot gets a call from her dream restaurant asking her to start that day. Late to the meeting, she finds that Zach is nowhere in sight. Margot--whose restaurant-owner mother is friends with the head chef--was further humbled by having been made a dishwasher despite having culinary training. Line cook Ben befriends her and suggests they try to find Zach together by following clues from things he said during their night together, leading to an adventure. The New York setting is vividly described, with scrumptious food scenes and authentic restaurant dynamics. The romantic mix-up is enhanced by Margot's managing of both her cooking bravado and cluelessness in holding onto a romantic ideal while missing her growing connection with Ben. Margot and Zach are presumed White; Ben has black eyes and tan skin. A delicious romance. (author's note, author interview) (Romance. 12-18)

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November 21, 2022
In this Serendipity and An Affair to Remember mash-up from Jouhanneau (Kisses and Croissants), aspiring chef Margot and globe-trotter Zach, both 17 and white-cued, promise to meet again in a year on the Times Square steps following an unforgettably romantic night in Paris. They don’t exchange contact information, believing they’re “meant to be” and that fate will lead them back to each other. A year later, Margot, eager to escape her small French countryside town, jumps at the opportunity to work at a prestigious N.Y.C. restaurant, but the gig isn’t what she initially pictured. Instead of exercising her cooking skills, she’s a dishwasher in a fast, harsh environment. The night she’s supposed to reunite with Zach, Margot is stuck at work, and when she arrives late to their meeting spot, Zach isn’t there. Gutted, she mourns her chance at love, until a coworker offers to help her find him. Together the teens explore the city, seeing the sites, sampling local eateries, and growing closer, even as Margot pines for Zach. Rapid pacing and an upbeat plot paired with delectable descriptions of N.Y.C.’s finest cuisine make this cheery romance perfect for foodies and hopeful romantics alike; Margot’s yearning for both epic romance and culinary prowess is palpable throughout. Ages 12–up.

February 1, 2023

Gr 8 Up-Margot and Zach spent a romantic and magical night in Paris together, and instead of exchanging numbers they decided to meet up a year later at midnight in Times Square. After graduating high school and a prestigious summer culinary program in France, Margot moves to the United States to pursue her two dreams: becoming a NYC chef, and rendezvous with the boy she was meant to be with. When Zach doesn't show up at their appointed meeting time and the only job she can get is as a dishwasher, driven and naive Margot must choose between the narrow focus of achieving her goals, or experiencing life as it's happening to her. A cute and kind line cook named Ben offers to help her find Zach, and the sights and (culinary) smells of New York take center stage as they tear through the city. A warm family story supports the main narrative, and readers will cringe along with Margot as she learns the tough lessons of being brand new in a competitive industry. VERDICT Fans of Emily in Paris and Dash & Lily will enjoy this light, romantic romp around the Big Apple.-Beth McIntyre

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